Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-08-09

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Senior PASOK members proposing radical changes in charter, organization and policies

[02] ND meeting examines more effective cooperation and coordination of secretariats' action

[03] Agreement signed by Macedonia-Thrace border representatives

[04] Thessaloniki prefect and Turkish consul discuss city's prospects

[05] Free Citizens Movement leader says Crete improving growth rates alone

[06] Local human rights group offers solidarity to Turkish hunger strikers

[07] Australian bidder tipped to up stakes in sale of Olympic Airways

[08] Greek investment firms' assets unchanged in July

[09] Greek aviation legislation being harmonized with international rules

[10] Gov't issues guides on funds for small tourism firms

[11] Alpha Bank launches new website

[12] Piraeus Bank's CEO resigns

[13] Greek stocks remain under pressure, end lower

[14] Ceremony for victims of 1943 Nazi massacre

[15] Panathinaikos beats Slavia Prague 2-1 in Champions League third qualifying round match

[16] Athens 2004 Organizing Committee members have average age of 36

[17] President Clerides says no meeting between him and Denktash has been set

[01] Senior PASOK members proposing radical changes in charter, organization and policies

Athens, 09/08/2001 (ANA)

According to reports, Simitis has postponed his holidays on the island of Sifnos, he will be leaving on Friday, to prepare both his address at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) and to study proposals made by party members, particularly those concerning the new charter, as well as those proposing a change in policy on various issues.

Simitis will also be informed on the text of positions on the congress during his holidays on the island. He is expected to send the text on the new charter, together with his observations, to Skandalidis on Wednesday night, which he in turn will be delivering to the members of the relevant committee on Thursday.

Finalized positions should be ready by corresponding committees after the summer holidays to be placed at the disposal of the Executive Bureau at the end of August.

Afterwards, they will be discussed by the Central Committee and then they will be sent to the delegates as main proposals for ultimate ratification.

Reports said that Papandreou is proposing considerable changes in the process of electing the party's agencies.

Among others, proposals have already been made by Foreign Minister George Papandreou, Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis and Minister of Macedonia and Thrace George Paschalidis.

[02] ND meeting examines more effective cooperation and coordination of secretariats' action

Athens, 09/08/2001 (ANA)

Draft regulations for the operation of the Central Committee and the Regional Organization, which will be finalized by the end of September, as well as the further planning of tours by Central Committee members in rural areas in the framework of the party's communication with citizens, was discussed.

"The problems of the Greek people are many and crucial, but the government is not preoccupying itself with them. On the contrary, ND is listing them, highlighting them and, with its initiatives, it is preparing to give necessary solutions with seriousness and responsibility," Meimarakis said afterwards.

[03] Agreement signed by Macedonia-Thrace border representatives

Athens, 09/08/2001 (ANA)

The cooperation pact aims to establish an information network, as well as further strengthen friendly relations between nations bordering this area.

Other objectives include the development of technology and the promotion of common initiatives in the economic, cultural and social spheres with the European Union as well as all neighboring countries.

[04] Thessaloniki prefect and Turkish consul discuss city's prospects

Athens, 09/08/2001 (ANA)

[05] Free Citizens Movement leader says Crete improving growth rates alone

Athens, 09/08/2001 (ANA)

"Crete succeeded in improving growth rates alone," he said, adding that perhaps because some considered it a certain political partner they abandoned it and traces of abandonment and indifference can now be felt.

Avramopoulos said a new era will begin for all of the Greek countryside through his party's proposals and programs.

"The FCM's substantive relation will start in Crete with the citizens who, I should tell you, are free by their own will, regardless of the political sector they come from," he said.

[06] Local human rights group offers solidarity to Turkish hunger strikers

Athens, 09/08/2001 (ANA)

Among others, members of the group said oppressive police measures are being intensified in Turkey, while Ankara is also attempting to completely isolate Turkish and Kurdish hunger strikers supporting political prisoners - nearly 10 months after bloody uprisings began in many of the neighboring country's prisons.

[07] Australian bidder tipped to up stakes in sale of Olympic Airways

Athens, 09/08/2001 (ANA)

On Friday, IAS had complained to the European Commission that 22 terms of its initial bid worth 350 million euros had been ignored by the government's consultant in the tender, Credit Suisse First Boston.

The bid by IAS, which reportedly has the backing of Olympic's pilots, was for up to 100 percent of the airline. Officials of the pilot's union confirmed that the Australian group was working on a fresh bid but declined to give detail.

The government has begun negotiations with Axon Airlines of Greece, the frontrunner in the tender following the evaluation of offers from four bidders by Credit Suisse First Boston. The talks are due to resume on August 19 after a summer break.

Transport and Communications Minister Christos Verelis has said that negotiations should last for about two months.

The talks are being conducted by a committee comprising representatives of the state's Council of Law, the tender consultants, and the ministries of national economy, finance and transport.

At the same time, the government would also be in touch with two of the other bidders - Cyprus Airways and Integrated Airline Solutions of Australia - in order to check the consortiums' finances and that their members were still committed, Verelis said. He also repeated that the sale carried two main conditions - that no jobs would be lost and that the ailing airline's financial viability would be assured.

The extended deadline for bids was June 18, and four groups submitted separate offers - Axon Airlines SA, Golden Aviation Services (of the Restis shipping group), IAS, and Cyprus Airways.

IAS, which had pulled out of the tender as it could not meet the original deadline, returned to the bidding due to the extension.

Credit Suisse First Boston has said that bids should meet the following criteria set by the government: